Modular Pneumatic Fluid Management for Dialysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical fluid management systems for kidney failure therapies, such as hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, face challenges in reliability, safety, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use, particularly in home-based settings, where they often require complex setups and generate significant disposable waste.
Innovation Solution
A modular medical fluid management system comprising a pneumatic manifold, a pump and valve engine, and a fluid manifold, designed for pneumatically operated systems that reduce fluid leaks and disposable components, allowing for easier assembly, maintenance, and scalability, while minimizing waste and enhancing operational efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional medical fluid management systems are used, then fluid delivery functions are provided, but system complexity and disposable waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into modular components including a pump module, valve module, and fluid management module. Each module can be independently manufactured, tested, and replaced, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump module serves multiple functions by integrating pumping, fluid delivery, and control capabilities into a single universal component that can handle different fluid types and flow rates, reducing the need for multiple specialized components.
2Reliability
If traditional medical fluid management systems are used, then fluid delivery is achieved, but operational costs increase due to disposable components
Solution Approach 1:
The system design allows for recovery and reuse of critical components such as the pump module and valve module after sterilization, while only disposing of contaminated fluid pathways, thereby reducing disposable waste while maintaining safety standards.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making entire systems disposable, only the fluid-contact components are designed as single-use items, while expensive mechanical components are made durable and reusable, optimizing the balance between safety and waste reduction.
3Productivity
If complex medical fluid management systems are used, then comprehensive fluid control is provided, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump and valve controls are merged into a single integrated module with unified control interfaces, allowing comprehensive fluid control to be achieved through simplified operation of one integrated unit rather than coordinating multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes self-diagnostic and self-calibration capabilities that automatically detect and correct operational parameters, reducing the need for manual setup and operation complexity while maintaining comprehensive control functions.
4Productivity
If traditional fluid management assemblies are used, then fluid delivery is maintained, but maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular architecture allows individual modules to be independently removed and replaced during maintenance, enabling quick repair of faulty components without disassembling the entire system, thus maintaining operational continuity while simplifying maintenance procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Medical fluid management assembly includes: a pneumatic manifold including multiple plates forming pneumatic passageways, a pneumatic valve chamber and a pneumatic pump chamber, the valve chamber in pneumatic communication with at least one passageway, the pump chamber in pneumatic communication with at least one passageway; and a fluid manifold including multiple fluid pathways, a fluid valve chamber in selective fluid communication with a fluid pump chamber and at least one fluid pathway, wherein (a) the pneumatic valve chamber and the fluid valve chamber are mated together to compress a membrane and (b) the pneumatic pump chamber and the fluid pump chamber are mated together to compress a membrane, wherein at least one of the pneumatic valve chamber or the pneumatic pump chamber extends from the at least one plate, or the fluid valve chamber or the fluid pump chamber extends from the fluid manifold to aid in compressing the membranes.